Combination outdoor jacket and pack



. y 11,1939- I o. c. DAIBER 2,165,348

COMBINATION OUTDOOR JACKET AND PACK Filed Feb. 17, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 g I4- 1 g B8 B INVENTOR H 7 Y Qmq (2 Barber WYM ATTOR N EYS Jul u, 1939 I 0. DAIBER 2,165,348.

I COMBINATION OUTDOOR JACKET AND PACK Filed Feb. 17, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 omzz afmw ATTORN EYS July 11, 1939. O.C.DAIBER 2,165,34

COMBINATION OUTDOOR JACKET AND PACK Filed Feb. 17, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 7/ ll Omafibaibar MrM T RNEYS Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Ome C. Daiber, Seattle, Wash.

Application February 1'7, 1937, Serial No. 126,302

3 Claims.

My present invention relates to outdoor, or sports clothing, and more particularly to a combination outdoor jacket and pack.

There has long been a need for a complete jacket, for outdoor sports, which would also provide a convenient means for carrying a considerable load in its rear pocket. Such a jacket and pack should be in the form of a combination unit which, even though removed from the back of the If; wearer, could be easily and conveniently carried.

The so-called hunters, or stag, coat has been manufactured for some time with what is normally referred to as a game pocket in the back thereof. This provides a means for carrying ll lunches, light objects, a limited amount of game and the like but, as soon as any weight is put in the back pocket, there is a tendency to bind across the throat of the wearer and, if the front of the jacket is unfastened, the tendency is to pull the jacket off the arms and shoulders. Then, too, when he removes this coat, as in the case of becoming warm from hiking, climbing, or from a change in the weather, he must normally provide himself with a pack, or rucksack, in which to carry the jacket, as well as his lunch and miscellaneous articles. Usually a wearer, particularly if he be a skier, finds it unpleasant to carry a rucksack over any coat or jacket as the straps produce pressure and chafing which cause the garment to leak at the shoulders. The surveyor, cruiser, and general sportsman find the same conditions and inconvenience in their use of such a coat.

It has been observed that when a person starts on a winter climb, hike, or particularly, on a skiing trip, he will usually have his jacket fastened for warmth. However, after a certain amount of exertion, the wearer may be so warm that the hood, or coat, or both are no longer necessary, or desirable. He normally progresses along a given route and has little, if any, expectancy of returning over that route. Consequently, any garment taken off must be carried along. Under such conditions it is very desirable to have a convenient means of carrying the jacket and necessary equipment and to serve this purpose I have provided my combination jacket and pack.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the front of a jacket, with the hood removed, made after the teachings of my present invention.

Figure 2 is a view taken in a similar sense but with the jacket itself turned inside out and either buttoned or fastened with a slide fastener in this position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 with certain parts broken away to more clearly illustrate one form of carrying means. 5

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the back of my jacket when the pack pocket is closed, the same being partly broken away to better illustrate the construction.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of my jacket show- 10 ing the pack pocket in its closed position.

Figure 6 is a typical, cross-sectional view taken at about the waistline showing the construction of my jacket and pack pocket when the pocket is extended.

Figure 7 is a rear perspective view, similar to Figure 4, excepting that the pack pocket has been disengaged from its fastenings and has bloused out as would appear when carrying a load.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the pack pocket in its extended position.

Figure 9 is a slight modification, the same being shown as a front elevation with certain parts broken away to better illustrate my construction.

Figure 10 is a side elevation which has been partly broken away and shown in section to more clearly illustrate the pack pocket.

Figure 11 is comparable to Figure 2 in that the coat has been turned inside out and fastened, the modification being that a vest structure has been used in place of the straps of Figure 2.

Figure 12 is a perspective View taken from the rear quarter showing the vest structure which, in effect, is only the front portion of a vest and really, more properly, pack straps which have been enlarged to provide protection and pocket area.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference characters indicate like parts, 14 designates the jacket forming part of my invention. The style of the jacket may follow any desirable, or conventional, design commonly employed in the manufacture of this type of garment. Normally, they are made of the heavier woolen fabrics when used in snow, or they may be made from the water repellent, duck materials for surveyors and hunters use. There is a need, however, for a jacket, or parka, with hood made of rather light, closely woven material to serve largely as a wind breaker. This type is desirable on Artic expeditions as well as for skiing and climbing at high elevations.

The back of my jacket is provided with a unique type of pack or game pocket. When the pocket is not being used, it is secured in a flat position by snaps, or other fastening means, as at IS with a suitable adjusting means at H to hold the back in close at the bottom of the jacket. This also gives a pleasing, smart appearance to the garment. In the position shown in Figures 4 and 5 the back of my jacket gives the same impression as the normal bi-swing back, sport coat used in golf and the like, and the same desirable characteristics are present in this garment.

When it is desired to use the back pocket for carrying loads, entrance is made, preferably, through the mechanical link, or slide, fastener 58 placed in the bloused portion 2|] of pocket 22. The outer cover 26 of the pocket is fixedly secured to the jacket at the shoulder lin 25 or it may be used for reinforcement and go entirely up over the shoulder to the line indicated at 26 in Figure 3.

The loaded pocket 22 is carried in the manner of a conventional pack. A plurality of pack straps as 21 and 23 are secured at the upper point of strain at 29 and are secured at the bottom of the pocket in spaced relationship, following the principles of rucksacks, as at 38 and 3| at which point any convenient means of adjustment may be provided so that the straps can be made to conform to users of different sizes, or to different types of load. In order to have the biswing effect and to give full freedom for the back so that no binding occurs, I have provided the pleated arrangement at 32.

In Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12, I have illustrated that which, at first, may appear to be a decided departure from my present plan. However, it is the same structure excepting that the pack straps 26 and 21 have been modified so as to provide what is, in effect, the front portion of a vest as shown in Figure 12. The back, upper strap of the vest is secured to coat M as at 34 providing the two straps as 35 and 36. These straps as they go down over the chest line extend laterally to provide the lapels of a vest which may be made after any convenient style according to the type of use intended. They may have pockets that will be suitable for the surveyor, or it may be provided with shell loops for the hunter. At its lower, or waistline portion, the vest-like straps 35 and 36 are provided with adjusting straps 355 and 39 which are secured to the coat M in the same position and for the same purpose as the showing of Figure 3. The actual carrying strain does not come upon buttons 10 but is carried around the arm opening downwardly to straps 38 and 39 so that, even though the vest is unbuttoned as might often be desirable, the coat will be carried in substantially the same manner with the same apparent ease and comfort as when straps 26 and 2'1 are used.

Another point of attachment is provided for the vest, in order to hold it in its normal shape, by pads M and 42 which are secured to the coat at a point just below the armhole. These pads, however, should be of such a length that they themselves do not take any of the carrying strain, otherwise, they would tend to bind and to draw across the chest and place undesirable strain on buttons 46.

When the coat is buttoned back, or secured by the front, slide fasteners 65, it is very difficult with either the vest, or the pack strap type to get into the pack pocket proper, inasmuch as the normal means of entry through zipper it is covered. To overcome this deficiency I have provided another opening as by slide fastener 6? Which permits entry into the pocket, preferably on the side opposite from closure l8. By placing this opening to one side of the center line of the pack, takes it away from the point of bearing pressure on the back and is readily available to the left hand, as illustrated, which can be reached around to the back and into the pack pocket through this opening. Of course, if the entire garment is removed it still provides the most convenient entry into the pack pocket as it avoids the necessity of opening the front closure 55 and then the back pocket closure l8.

M ethod 0;? operation In using my present combination outdoor jacket and pack the user normally places the respective arms under the straps 21 and 28, then into the corresponding sleeves. The coat can now be fastened at the front and worn as any ordinary coat. The straps themselves, when not under strain, are unnoticed by the user. The same is true of the modified form shown in Figures 9 to 12, inclusive. However, the shoulder straps need not necessarily be worn over the shoulders when the coat is on except when desirable to lessen the strain of load in pack pocket.

When it is desired to use the back pocket, the fasteners at it are released, the closure member 518 opened, the load placed inside, and member if! reclosed. The pack will then assume the position shown in Figures 8 and 10. It is well up on the shoulders occupying the same position as a wellbalanced rucksack with the load against the back and not down below the waistline as is so common with the conventional game-pocket in the back of the ordinary hunting coat, in which position it is dificult for the wearer to climb over fallen timber, to sit down, or the like. The real Weight of the load carried is not distributed through the coat itself but is taken up directly by either the straps 2i and 28 as shown in Figure 3, or the corresponding straps 35 and 36.

Now, it quit often happens that the user of the jacket desires to take off the coat. This can be most easily accomplished by merely opening the front fastener, pulling the arms out of the sleeves, and carrying the weight of the coat by the straps as a pack. This leaves the coat and any weight in the pack pocket carried by the straps as before, but with the coat entirely out of the way of the user. neatness, appearance, or handiness, to throw the jacket back and engage the slide fasteners after the showings of Figures 2 and 11, with the collar be turned inwardly. Here a very convenient,

neat arrangement is provided where the pack itself is fully protected by the coat and there are no loose parts to become entangled in brush, and the like.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings are believed to clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claims:

I claim:

1. The combination with a jacket, of an exterior rear pocket comprising a back wall secured at the shoulder portion of the jacket, spaced foldable side walls joining said jacket and back wall with their lower ends terminating above the bottom edge of the jacket, one of said side walls having an opening and a closure therefor, said back-wall having a downward extension below It often is desirable for rior rear pocket comprising a back wall and foldable side walls secured to the jacket, said pocket having an opening and a closure therefor, shoulder straps within the jacket each having one end attached to the back wall of the jacket at the shoulder, and said straps having their other ends detachably secured to the lower region of the back wall, providing loops through which the arms of the wearer may be passed.

3. The combination with a jacket, of an exterior rear pocket comprising a back wall and side walls, said back wall having a bottom extension and detachable means for fastening said extension to the lower portion of the back wall of the jacket, said pocket having an opening and a closure therefor, shoulder straps within the jacket each having one end attached to the back wall of the jacket at the shoulder, and said straps having their other ends detachably secured to the lower region of the back wall, providing loops through which the arms of the wearer may be passed.

OME C. DAIBER. 

